Matthew 6:10 b "Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It Is in Heaven"

I. Knowing God's will

"How do I know God's will for my life?"

            A. I Timothy 2:3-4; God our Savior desires

                        1. All men to be saved

                        2. All men to come to the knowledge of the truth

            B. John 6:39, 40; it is the will of the Father that everyone who

                        1. Beholds the Son and believes in Him

                        2. May have eternal life

                        3. And Jesus will raise him up on the last day

            C. Scriptural details

                        1. Sermon of the Mount; Matthew 5-7

                        2. Epistles

                                    Romans 12, 13

                                    Galatians 5, 6

                                    Ephesians 4, 5 (especially 5)

                                    Philippians 4

                                    Colossians 3, 4

II. Submitting to God's will

            A. Jesus' example

                        1. John 6:38 came not to do own will, but will of Him who sent Me

                        2. Matthew 26:39, 42 Father, yet not as I will, but as you will

            B. Romans 12:21. Not conformed      suschmatizesqe  (mind and character)

            2. But transformed metamorfousqe by the renewing of your mind

            3. To prove what the will of God is (see also metanoew - to change one's mind, i.e. repentance)

III. Living God's will - let's be practical, knowing and submission do not necessarily lead to action- we need to be intentional

            A. God may not answer specifically

                        1. vocation     

                        2. marriage                 

                        3. location      

                        4. details of living - eat and wear

            B. God's will has to do with salvation and holiness

                        1. Know God as Father

                        2. Hallow His name

                        3. Be subject in His kingdom

                        4. Have a desire- even a burden- to see people saved

            C. The focus of my life

                        1. To use my job, family, place to the Lord's work

                        2. Job, family, home have secondary priority

                        3. God's will for salvation and holiness are primary priorities

                        4. We cannot separate Church and life as we have separated Church and state

            D. John 7:14-18 (17)

14Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. 15The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?"

16Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. 17If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

                        1. Do His will

                        2. Then you will know of the teaching if it is from the Father or not